Sodium & Arthritis

Arthritis literally means joint inflammation. There are a group of more than 100 rheumatic conditions that are divided into three categories: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. All cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. People with arthritis need to monitor their sodium intake. They also need to be aware that certain medications prescribed for arthritis, such as corticosteroids, cause the body to retain sodium.

Limit Sodium

• Health experts agree that we need to limit our daily salt intake; this is especially true for the arthritis sufferer. The brain, heart and muscles require only 500 milligrams of sodium daily. Recent guidelines for daily salt intake are 1,500 mg daily for adults ages 19 to 50, 1,300 mg daily for ages over 50 and 1,200 mg for those older than 70.

Recommendations

• The Arthritis Foundation recommends "6 Tips to Break the Salt Habit":

  1. Avoid processed foods.
  2. Remove the salt shaker from the table.
  3. Use salt substitutes or reduced-sodium products.
  4. Use pepper or other spices for adding flavor.
  5. When dining out, ask for food to be lightly salted.
  6. Eat grilled and steamed foods; avoid stir-fries and soups.

Organic Sodium

• The lack of organic sodium in the joints is one of the main reasons for the development of arthritis, bursitis and acid-related conditions in the body. Other reasons include poor diet, stress, lack of sleep, toxic conditions and lack of exercise. Patients respond more quickly to a diet high in organic sodium than to any than to any other method of treatment.

Salt Baths

• Sea salt baths are therapuetic

  Ironically, bathing in Epsom salts or sea salts is very therapeutic for arthritis sufferers because the salts flush toxins out of our body. Also, the salts ease headaches, strengthen joints and help the body absorb nutrients.

Healthy Diet

• Sodium, common in processed or fast foods, causes water retention, as do some arthritis drugs such as corticosteroids. Doctors recommend low-sodium diets for arthritis sufferers because water retention causes joints to swell, sometimes restricting movement.

  Patients with arthritis should not only restrict sodium intake but also consume foods that are very beneficial for the reduction of inflammation in the body such as extra-virgin olive oil and Omega-3 fatty acids found in certain fish, omega-3-fortified eggs, flax seed and walnuts.

  Vitamin C rich foods should be part of the arthritis health diet as well as antioxidant rich foods containing vitamin C, selenium, carotene and bioflavonoids.
  For a list of these foods, see Resources below.